To be most representative, a 24-hour composite sample should be collected how?

A 24-hour composite sample is designed to provide a comprehensive representation of wastewater characteristics over an entire day. To achieve this, flow-proportioned volumes throughout the day are essential, as they ensure that the sample reflects variations in flow and composition that may occur at different times. By collecting samples proportionate to the flow rate, you capture the diversity of the wastewater, accounting for peak and non-peak times, which is crucial for accurate analysis and monitoring.

Using static volumes or only sampling during peak hours would not adequately represent the overall composition of the wastewater. Random intervals also fail to consider flow variations and could lead to sampling biases, ultimately resulting in inaccuracies in data representation. Thus, the method of flow-proportioned sampling is the best approach to ensure the collected sample is truly representative of the wastewater being treated.